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Doing some Walleye fishing and also chasing crappie. I have not had any luck locating them. I am hitting a spot where I had luck last year in early May. Water temp is 54 - 56 moving around with weather. I am casting in with 1/6 ounce jig head and a slider on. I have a feeling they are out deeper but can not locate. This is a smaller lake with brush piles, looking for any advice or thoughts. I also have 13' Southern Crappie rods I have not brought out yet.
thanks for any help
if they are black crappie they are likely shallow real early in the mornings before the sun gets up good after a day or two of sunshine and warm weather ...my 2 cents
Thanks Ketchn, have read many of your posts. I appreciate the info, we are getting hammered with rain and then maybe a little sun on Saturday. I might try an early outing on Sunday
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ketchn
Well about 6 weeks ago on lake Chickamgua we found them staging in the mouths of creeks, after locating schools, we dropped anchor and casted jigs till we limited out, fish were 7ft and deeper in 14th ft or water, we cast 1/16th oz jig heads, count to 7 then slow roll till we feel the thump.Quote:
Originally Posted by Potatoe
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Maybe slow it down a little. I have a spring spot that I do real well on jigs and plastic under a bobber. Twitch it now and then to make it swim. If I cast and retrieve, they won't touch it. Might try a lively minnow under a bobber as well.
I look for warmer waters generally shallow with mud flats especially on sunny warm afternoons. IMO they both come to take the rays and to feed on early insect hatches that the sun brings off. I fish slower than later on with smaller plastics on lighter lines often under a float to slow down retrieve even more and get more casting distance and a set depth. They also move into the eddies in creek mouths and this time of year a running street drain right after a storm can be magic.
Thanks for the replies and help, water was still 55 today. It is getting close I think they are going to move up soon to the bank. No luck for me trying in this cold water, I think I am going to fast based on replies. Makes sense thanks again
If you're goin out fishn shalla that just might be the culprit.... If you're in the spawning areas back out just a bit..... check out what works for me in this vid if you like...... and be sure to add some scent to your jigs, it helps a lot during this time of year......
https://youtu.be/iU_ErluKXb4
one thing for certain they are likely within eye sight of where they want to go shallow at some point .
and to be sure in many cases the large fish don't stay shallow long …..keep that in mind
as mentioned above the body of the spawners frequently stage out a bit deeper and make short runs to the beds when everything is right for them .
3 days of sunshine and be on the beds at right before daylight ,when they quit right after sunrise back off to 10 to 15 fow
the short water spawn in the daylight is frequently short lived in most spots from what I have seen .
going to give it a try in the am if the rain will hold off, going to bring my 3 spider poles and try it slow in the area
we have sun out this afternoon
thanks for video also SK
thanks again
Caught 5 this am, had light rain going out in the dark. They hit for awhile and then shut down. I kept trying in the same area but just ended up with snags instead of fish. Water still 55 and we have rain forecasted this week. Going to order some of Slab Sauce you guys are using if I can find free shipping
thanks for the help
pre-spawn on reservoir lakes, I always found crappie in staging areas at the front of coves near structure, at least the larger females. spider rigging was always my preferred method. For walleyes, we are in post spawn in Colorado now and walleyes are still schooled in deeper water in coves. 19-29' was best for me in close proximity to the shallow flats in the coves. Also gentle sloping flats up the lake were good prespawn. leeches on lindy rigs are working best here for walleye and is usually the go to so as long the water isn't to cold where the leech wraps around the hook.
Reporting back, we have 50% rain tomorrow I am thinking about going out again in the rain. Wondering how many go out in the rain, is it better fishing, not excited to get wet and soaked but I have a feeling the rain might turn them on. Our water temp is going up and down with crazy swings in weather. We were just really cold and a warm front is moving in this week. Last water temp was around 55 on Saturday. Sunday was overcast and cold, today was sunny and 65.
Should I wait it out to later in week when we hit near 85 on Friday ??
If'n I can go I'm gone..... the only questions is.... is there lightning in them their clouds :Rofl
Thought I would report back and a few more questions, took the last 3 days off. First day was rain when I posted almost went to work then read SKS reply and I went day turned out nice caught a few. The weather got warmer and it sparked the Crappie yesterday and today. I had to move around to find them, they were shallow and I was amazed how many I caught in one tiny spot. Was using a 1/32 jig (pink head) with funky monkey charlie brewer jig. I casted both days non-stop for 6 hours each morning with a few breaks.
How long does the spawn last, our water temp is 60 this am - we got super hot today 93
I assume they move out deeper after spawn, last year I struggled to find them after spawn
next year I am taking the week off when this hits
thanks for all the help also